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PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor
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Ch. 565
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WHEREAS,—Medicare plus Choice managed care plans have benefits that are
not included in the federal Medicare benefit package, including prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, An increasing number of Maryland's senior citizens who live on
fixed incomes are experiencing difficulties in meeting the cost of life-sustaining
prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, The cost of providing Medicare plus Choice managed care benefits
that provided prescription drug coverage exceeded the income from premiums for
these programs and thus caused managed care organizations to leave fourteen
counties and medically underserved areas counties and portions of counties in
Maryland; and
WHEREAS, The Maryland General Assembly recognizes the need to
encourage managed care organizations to return to those counties in Maryland that
have no Medicare plus—Choice managed care or are designated as medically
underserved areas by the federal Health Care Financing Administration of the
Department of Health and Human Services; and ensure that all Maryland residents
have access to prescription drugs in order to maintain the optimal level of health
possible for Maryland citizens; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the Maryland General Assembly to provide an
incentive to Managed Care Organizations to provide Medicare plus Choice programs
to seniors in those areas who have no Medicare managed care or are in medically
underserved areas; and
WHEREAS,—A subsidy to effect the premium cost for seniors who have no
Medicare managed care find a temporary means of providing prescription drug
benefits to its senior citizens who have no prescription drug benefits in those counties
or portions of counties that are medically underserved and have no managed care
prescription drug benefits available; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the Maryland General Assembly to fund the
prescription drug benefits plan with a portion of the approved purchaser differential
received under § 15-606 of the Insurance Article by carriers who provide substantial,
affordable, and available health care coverage programs; and
WHEREAS, Providing a short-term prescription drug program for Maryland's
senior citizens will have a long term beneficial effect on the cost of public health in
Maryland; now, therefore,
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
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- 2995 -
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